Contributed by Yohannes Gashama, a diplomatic staff member at the Ethiopian Consulate General Office in the Puntland State of Somalia.
Notwithstanding coordinated challenges and sustained pressures, the 7th National General Election of Ethiopia, held on 01 June 2026, was successfully conducted and emerged as one of Africa’s largest democratic exercises. Its successful conduct sent a powerful message to both supportive observers and critical observers, underscoring the resilience of Ethiopia’s democratic institutions and the determination of its citizens.
The election drew global attention because its outcome will shape not only Ethiopia’s future but also the political and security dynamics of the Horn of Africa.
According to the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), the election period was marked not only by high voter turnout but also by extensive political engagement, with 47 political parties and 10,934 candidates participating in the electoral process. A total of 19 structured policy debates were conducted, providing platforms for parties to present their police’s before the electorate. In total, the election cycle encompassed approximately 782 hours of radio programming, 570 hours of television content, and 576 newspaper columns devoted to electoral discourse. These debates were held in multiple languages, including Amharic, Afaan Oromo, Somali, Afar, and Sidama, ensuring broad accessibility and inclusive public participation across diverse linguistic communities. Observers from both opposition and rival political parties, totaling approximately 250,000, were deployed to ensure transparency across polling stations nationwide.
The Ethiopian people—the owners of the election—have spoken through their ballots, choosing the leadership that will lead the country over the next five years. Millions stood in long queues for hours, enduring the heat of the day and the cold of the night, sacrificing their comfort while waiting in polling lines to exercise their democratic right. Their unwavering determination to vote despite these challenges reflected a profound commitment to shaping the future of their nation through peaceful, democratic, and constitutional means.
There were a few critics who argued that the election outcome was predetermined, that the ruling party’s victory was inevitable, and that citizens’ participation was meaningless. However, the reality of the situation challenges these claims. Had citizens believed that their voices did not matter or that the outcome was predetermined, they would not have made such sacrifices, waiting for hours simply to cast their votes. Nor would they have ignored threatening messages and smear campaigns aimed at discouraging their participation.
Furthermore, efforts were made to discourage voter participation through intimidation and misinformation campaigns, particularly during the voter registration. Following the registration of more than 54 million citizens, these efforts shifted toward discouraging participation in campaign rallies. However, this approach was also unsuccessful, as high levels of public turnout were observed at campaign events across the country.
Undeterred by these setbacks, the group continued to exert pressure on citizens not to cast their ballots by fostering doubt, fear, and uncertainty regarding both the electoral process and its outcome. Nevertheless, these efforts did not weaken the determination of the electorate.
Compounding these efforts, concerted media smear campaigns were also carried out to delegitimize the electoral process through the publication of articles and commentaries that, although appearing under different names and platforms, echoed similar narratives aimed at casting doubt on the credibility of the election. Furthermore, even after election, these groups did not adjust their positions in light of preliminary reports issued by electoral observer missions, including those of the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), as well as statements from the European Union (EU) delegation.
The election was not merely a political event; it was a demonstration of public trust in the democratic process. The people’s message was clear: political legitimacy is earned only through votes, not by any other means. Ethiopians are far more attuned to the realities unfolding in their country than to the baseless defamation propagated by a few media outlets regarding the election, simply because it did not go in the way they desired.
Beyond its immediate outcome, the election leaves an enduring legacy for Ethiopia and Africa as the continent’s largest democratic exercise, exemplifying the successful integration of new technologies, the efficiency and integrity of the electoral process, and the unwavering commitment of the Ethiopian people to peaceful and democratic participation.
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